1925
Charles
2010
Charles Matthews Cooley, Sr.
June 13, 1925 — September 20, 2010
Charles Cooley
1925—2010
Charles Matthews Cooley, Sr., resident of the Taylor’s Chapel Community of Fayette County, U. S. Navy Veteran, retired Memphis Cotton Merchant and husband of the late Margaret Cooley died Monday, September 20, 2010 at the Methodist Hospital in Somerville. He was 85 years of age and died unexpectedly.
A Funeral Mass was conducted for Mr. Cooley at 10 A.M. Friday, September 24
th
at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville. The officiating ministers were Father Stephen K. Kenny, Father Valentine N. Handwerker and Deacon Mike Blome’. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes—Main Chapel of Somerville.
Mr. Cooley was born in Memphis on June 13, 1925. He was preceded in death by his parents Cyrus Eugene Cooley, Sr. and Mary Lois Matthews Cooley. He was a 1943 Graduate of Fayette County High School and continued his education at Tulane University and received his BS degree in Agriculture from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Mr. Cooley served in the United State Navy during the WWII period from 1943 to 1946 and was married August 25, 1951 to the former Margaret Raney who preceded him in death on July 24, 2002. He was a Cotton Merchant in Memphis for Dunavant Enterprises for 40 years before his retirement 20 years ago. Mr. Cooley returned to Fayette County after his retirement to live on the Cooley Family Farm where he enjoyed his lifelong love of agriculture and farming.
He was a devoted member of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church and of the Joyner’s Campground Association. Mr. Cooley also participated in numerous church, business and community organizations that included Fayette Cares, Fayette County Historical Society, Somerville Country Club, National Cotton Council, Southern Cotton Association, Texas Cotton Association, Boy Scouts of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his sons, Charles Matthews Cooley, Jr. (Carol) of Stowe, VT, Dr. Christopher E. Cooley of Memphis, Clayton T. Cooley (Laura) of Charleston, SC, Cyrus J. Cooley of Atlanta, GA, his daughters, Virginia C. Halliburton (Michael) of Memphis and Amy C. James (Steve) of Memphis, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Cooley was also preceded in death by his brother, Cyrus E. Cooley, Jr. and his sister, Sarah A. Cottle.
Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Charles Cooley, Jr., Dr. Christopher E. Cooley, Clay T. Cooley, Cyrus J. Cooley, Aaron Cooley, David Cooley, Morgan Cooley and Taylor Halliburton.
Honorary casketbearers were Charles E. Harvey and Sam Gervasi.
The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 11710 Highway 64, Somerville, TN 38068 or Joyner’s Campground Association, 3690 Yum Yum Road, Somerville, TN 38068.
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